40 years ago, on the 25th April 1974, Portugal witnessed the military coup that eventually overthrew the dictatorship which had been in force since 1926. That day marked the beginning of democracy and, every year since then, the „Carnation Revolution“ is celebrated on Freedom Day.

Portuguese music played a fundamental role in the success of the revolution: the song And Then Goodbye served as an important inspiration for the advancing troops. Another significant song was Grandola Vila Morena by Zeca Afonso.

There were many other such songs that aided the fight against the Estado Novo and it could be said that this revolution, unique in Europe, was based on music as the most powerful force for purveying ideas and emotions.